European nights will help 'replace' Rangers, claims Lennon

The Celtic boss has suggested Champions League football can help fill the void left in the Parkhead side's fixture list by their Glasgow rivals' recent relegation

Celtic boss Neil Lennon believes the return of Champions League football to Parkhead can help replace the loss of Old Firm derbies this season.

Following Rangers' recent demotion to the Scottish Third Division, the Glasgow side are without their traditional biggest fixture of the year.

But Lennon thinks that mixing with Europe's elite can match the enormity of the Glasgow Derby, "at least in football terms".

"At the minute, in terms of finances we will miss the four Old Firm games but it is not a huge loss from a footballing sense because obviously the European games will make up for that," Lennon declared.

Back on the domestic front, Lennon claims he has noticed little difference in the absence of his club's most bitter rivals this year.

"I haven't detected much of a difference within the SPL," the Northern Irishman said. "Eventually you move on. There has been a hole there but it is up to other clubs to fill that void.

"The games have been very competitive, the crowds have been good, and some of the football has been good. Dundee come to us with no pressure on them this weekend and that is dangerous for us so we have to be in the right frame of mind going into this game."